[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69983-69984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30997]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 69983]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV04-901-1NC]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved generic information collection for vegetables and 
specialty crop marketing order programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 2004.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Valerie L. Emmer-Scott, 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 
0237, room 2525-S., Washington, DC 20090-6456; Tel: (202) 205-2829, 
Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jay Guerber, Regulatory Fairness Representative, Marketing 
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 
20090-6456; telephone (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0178.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure adequate 
supplies of high quality products for consumers and adequate returns to 
producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), industries enter into marketing 
order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) is authorized 
to oversee the order operations and issue regulations recommended by a 
committee or board of representatives from each commodity industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing order programs. Under the Act, orders may authorize the 
following: production and marketing research including paid 
advertising, volume regulations, reserves including pools and producer 
allotments, container regulations, and quality control. Assessments are 
levied on handlers regulated under the marketing orders. Also pursuant 
to section 8e of the Act, importers of raisins, dates, and dried prunes 
are required to submit certain information.
    Several forms are required to be filed by USDA to enable its 
administration of each program. These include forms covering the 
section process for industry members to serve on a marketing order's 
committee or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or continue 
marketing order programs.
    Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are 
nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or 
board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information 
on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Nominees 
are selected by the Secretary. Formal rulemaking amendments must be 
approved in referenda conducted by USDA and the Secretary. For the 
purposes of this action, ballots are considered information collections 
and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. If an order is amended, 
handlers are asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to 
abide by the provisions of the amended order.
    Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. 
The orders and their rules and regulations authorize the respective 
commodities' committees and boards, the agencies responsible for local 
administration of the orders, to require handlers and producers to 
submit certain information. Much of the information is compiled in 
aggregate and provided to the respective industries to assist in 
marketing decisions. The committees and boards have developed forms as 
a means for persons to file required information relating to supplies, 
shipments, and dispositions of their respective commodities, and other 
information needed to effectively carry out the purpose of the Act and 
their respective orders, and these forms are utilized accordingly.
    OMB Control No. 0581-0071, Almonds Grown in California, Marketing 
Order No. 981, will also be merged into this information collection.
    The forms covered under this information collection require the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements 
of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the 
Act as expressed in the orders, and the rules and regulations issued 
under the orders.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees and boards and authorized representatives of the USDA, 
including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarter's 
staff. Authorized committee/board employees are the primary users of 
the information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.086 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 23,753.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 163,709.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.195

[[Page 69984]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,032 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments should reference this docket number and the appropriate 
marketing order, and be mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, room 
2525-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or E-mail: 
[email protected]. Comments should also reference the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection in the Office of the 
Docket Clerk during regular USDA business hours, or can be viewed at: 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: December 9, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30997 Filed 12-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P